I'm looking for a cheap way to start and I was thinking maybe I could by a regular rc battleship, strip the hulls and replace with balsa, and modify/position the guns to fire and put it back together. Is that even possible? If not what are some cheap ways to start? Anh info would be much apprechiated.
Not really, those types of models aren't designed for the punishment ours our. You'd need all the same innards either way so it really doesn't makes sense. Take a look at this thread: www.rcnavalcombat.com/Forum/tabid/5...fault.aspx It is a long thread but will give you a pretty good idea of how to do the hobby on the cheap. The real cost of the hobby isn't building a boat(once built that will last for years with very minor expenses), it is the travel, hotels, and food that is required to actually battle.
Also check out RichelieuBB's Bearn thread. It's a great help for those wishing to build a wooden hull. http://rcnavalcombat.com/Forum/tabid/58/aff/566/aft/407920/afv/topic/afnp/480576/Default.aspx The thread that Snipe posted is also a good course. Another thing to keep in mind when building your ship is what format you are going to build to. Whether it be Big Gun/Slow Gun, or Fast Gun/Small Gun, there is a big difference in how you build the ship. Generally, cruisers and battlecruisers are good starter boats for Fast Gun. And I've heard that battleships are the best for Big Gun. Also where you are can effect what format you will want to build to. If there are lots of Fast Gunners around you, you would probably want to build a Fast Gun ship. Same goes for Big Gun. Some good sources for fiberglass hulls and general supplies for Fast Guns ships include Battler's Connection,. http://battlersconnection.com/index.html and Strike Models. http://www.strikemodels.com/ Beaver
Thanks for reminding me that I need to clean that thread up and finish it Matt, that thread lays out the easiest, cheapest way to get into the battle. By the time you get the hull done, the instructions for the other parts will be there I'll be at a car show on Saturday watching my father-in-law's car, so I'll be typing up a new entry on my laptop. The major limiting factor keeping it from being cheap is that you have to buy a CO2 bottle and a regulator, and those are items not easily made at home. Keeping in mind that I have built a lot of ships, some furniture, and recently built my own 3D printer at home, I mean it when I say 'NOT EASILY BUILT AT HOME' But a ship hull and combat systems aren't bad on that scale. With a little attention to detail and a decent set of instructions, the hull is just a matter of time and material. Maybe $10 of plywood and $10-20 of waterproof epoxy. Can do it with a hand saw or a power scrollsaw. A little CA glue to hold pieces together temporarily helps.
More to the point I don't think you could safely make a CO2 bottle at home with out spending more on tools and materials than it would cost to buy one. Safety first.
When I ordered my electronics from Hobby King* with a complete brushless setup, it cost me about $135 not including shipping. That included everything that I needed to get my cruiser up and running. Beaver * Hobby King is one of the best places to get good quality parts pretty cheap. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/index.asp
Not to mention...... Not sure about big gun clubs, but in the Fast gun clubs, anything on the high pressure side has to be commercially made. The high pressue side is the regulator and bottle. Meaning you can not build your own bottle like we did with the freon..(Did I just date myself? ) also you can not "alter" the thick brass regulators on lathe by taking out all the bulk brass, thus making it lighter... 1. All CO2 tanks used on-board ships and as land-based storage containers must be commercially manufactured and certified for use with CO2 and may not be modified in any manner. 2. All CO2 systems must have a manufactured pressure regulator set to no more than 150 psi. The pressure regulator must be connected to the tank using only manufactured hoses or unions rated for CO2. The regulator serves to divide the system into a high-pressure side, consisting of the CO2 tank and pressure relief valve, and a low-pressure side, consisting of a distribution manifold, poppet valves or solenoids, and conventional R/C BB cannons. Items on the low-pressure side of the regulator NEED NOT be manufactured or certified. What area do you live in Matt?
I live in Frisco and unfortunately there's nobody around to do this with but it'd still be fun to get into. I'm still trying to see if maybe I can't just buy a fiberglass hull from strike models and building from there and purchasing materials based on what club I join (if I do)
You should contact some of the NTXBG people. Their website is https://ntxbg.org. I think they hold their big annual event called NABGO, not to far from you.
Best advice for you Matt... be sure to check around a lot, read a lot, and then if it all possible, go to a battle.... go to a battle, go to a battle... this way you will be able to see up close what we do...and ask as many questions as you need. Captains can get into this hobby with no help, but it is not recommended. Building and battling can be very easy, cheap, and fun, as long as you have not only good advise (plenty here on the forum) but the right advise to fit your situation. Keep on the forums, and send out emails... Any of the captains will be glad to answer your questions.
Check the mwci.org for local contacts. I am from your area originally and there are a couple knowledgeable guys out there.
